Intel has unveiled a new low-power Atom processor-based platform (Lexington) and smartphone reference design, targeted at the value smartphone market segment. Customers announcing support for the platform include Acer, Lava International and Safaricom.

The new platform offers many high-end features including the Intel Atom processor Z2420 with Intel Hyper-Threading technology that can achieve speeds of 1.2GHz, 1080p hardware-accelerated encode/decode, and support for up to two cameras that can capture seven pictures in less than a second in 5-megapixel quality. The platform also includes the Intel XMM 6265 HSPA+ modem that offers Dual Sim/Dual Standby capability for cost-conscious consumers.

In 2018, global server shipments will grow 8.5% to reach 13.73 million units. Digitimes Research estimates server shipments worldwide will grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during the period 2017-2022, with growth mainly driven by large-scale data centers and the China market.

Digitimes Research estimates total shipments of smartphone APs worldwide will grow 1.5% on year to 1.67 billion units in 2018. The slowing growth in the smartphone market means global smartphone AP shipments will only grow at a mild pace in the next few years, reaching 1.77 billion units in 2021.